The Met Office has activated two significant yellow weather warnings for ice across multiple regions of the United Kingdom, with an additional hazard posed by freezing fog. This unusual meteorological phenomenon is set to impact southern England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from Sunday evening into Monday morning, prompting authorities to advise extreme caution for residents and travellers.
Detailed Alert Information and Timing
One warning specifically covers extensive areas of southern England and Wales, remaining in effect from 10pm on Sunday through to 9am on Monday. A separate alert has been issued for the entirety of Northern Ireland, active from 7pm on Sunday until 9am on Monday. Both warnings highlight the dual risks of icy patches and freezing fog, which could create treacherous conditions on untreated surfaces.
Understanding the Freezing Fog Phenomenon
Freezing fog develops when minuscule, supercooled water droplets within fog freeze immediately upon contact with exposed surfaces, such as trees, steps, railings, pavements, roads, and vehicles. This occurs when surface temperatures reach or drop below freezing, a process explained by the US National Weather Service. This phenomenon can lead to the formation of black ice, significantly increasing the danger for all forms of travel.
Specific Risks and Safety Recommendations
The Met Office has cautioned that wet surfaces from recent rain, combined with falling temperatures, will likely create icy patches on untreated roads, footpaths, and cycle routes. The extent of cloud cover across parts of Wales and central southern England remains uncertain, which will influence whether temperatures drop sufficiently low enough to allow ice to form. A few fog patches may pose an additional hazard, reducing visibility.
To mitigate risks, the Met Office strongly recommends planning your route ahead of time and departing at least five minutes earlier than usual to avoid the need to hurry, which decreases the likelihood of accidents, slips, and tumbles. For those travelling on foot, sticking to major roads is advised, as pavements there are less prone to being as treacherous. Similarly, cyclists should keep to main roads, as these are more likely to have received gritting or other treatment.
List of Affected Areas
The following 42 areas are covered by the Met Office ice warnings:
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight
- Portsmouth
- Southampton
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole
- Bristol
- Cornwall
- Devon
- Dorset
- North Somerset
- Plymouth
- Somerset
- South Gloucestershire
- Torbay
- Wiltshire
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend
- Caerphilly
- Cardiff
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Gwynedd
- Isle of Anglesey
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Newport
- Pembrokeshire
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea
- Torfaen
- Vale of Glamorgan
- County Antrim
- County Armagh
- County Down
- County Fermanagh
- County Londonderry
- County Tyrone
Residents in these regions are urged to stay informed through official Met Office updates and exercise heightened vigilance during the warning periods to prevent potential injuries from slips on icy surfaces.
